Selling Jobs

Leave the hospital.

Zhao Jinzhong rode his bicycle home with a worried expression.

He kept thinking about how to convince his mother the whole way. In the past, he would have just told her directly, but when he thought about how his mother had beaten him up that morning, he felt a little scared.

It is clear.

Mom is in a bad mood today.

Even the eldest son and his wife had been kicked out, so he was actually a little afraid of getting beaten up if he made a request at this time.

I'll just have to endure it.

He would accept being beaten as long as his mother was willing to go to the hospital to take care of his aunt until she was discharged.

With the mindset of bravely facing his death, Zhao Jinzhong pedaled his bicycle at breakneck speed.

When I got home, the yard was pitch black.

Only the lights were still on in his and Zhao Xueyi's room. Zhao Jinzhong knocked on the door a few times, and Zhao Xueyi opened it while yawning. "If you hadn't come back, I wouldn't have been able to stay awake any longer."

"Is Mom asleep?"

"I went to bed early."

Zhao Jinzhong gritted his teeth and was about to knock on the old couple's door when Zhao Xueyi grabbed him. "What are you doing? Don't say I didn't warn you, Mom's really irritable today. She even yelled at the dog that passed by the house last night. You'd better not mess with her today."

Zhao Jinzhong didn't listen, "Mom really loves me..."

Zhao Xueyi rolled his eyes. "You think you're more valuable than the eldest son? I heard from Aunt Meifeng that today, Mom and Dad not only kicked the eldest son and his wife out, but also settled accounts with them and demanded back all the money they had spent on them over the years. They were practically ready to sever ties on the spot."

Zhao Jinzhong gasped.

Seeing that he realized the seriousness of the situation, Zhao Xueyi let go and gestured for him to leave, "Go on, go on. You can't reason with a damned devil. If you're looking to die, your brother can only silently light a candle for you."

"..."

Zhao Jinzhong hesitated for a moment, then turned and went to the kitchen.

Forget it.

Being woken up when you're sleeping soundly is the most infuriating thing.

He'll wait until tomorrow to talk about it.

After a good night's sleep, her mother's temper should improve.

Zhao Jinzhong was so hungry that his stomach was practically sticking to his back. He rummaged through the cupboard and found some steamed buns. He couldn't even wait to heat them up before wolfing them down with the leftovers. He ate five large steamed buns in a row before his stomach felt comfortable.

It was already 11 o'clock when I got back to my room after dinner.

Zhao Xueyi was fast asleep.

Zhao Jinzhong was also tired. He turned off the light bulb and fell asleep immediately. He had something on his mind and didn't dare to sleep soundly. He didn't know how much time had passed when he vaguely heard a noise in the yard and woke up with a start.

I turned my head and glanced at the clock.

It's only 6:30.

It was already broad daylight outside. When Zhao Jinzhong heard his parents talking, he jumped out of bed, pulled up his pants, and hurried out the door.

"mom!"

Zhang Guiying was brushing her teeth at the tap by the wall when Zhao Jinzhong pushed past Zhao Binghe and squeezed next to her. "Mom, good morning."

Zhang Guiying brushed her teeth, completely ignoring him.

Zhao Jinzhong stood guard nearby.

Seeing that Zhang Guiying had finished brushing her teeth and rinsing her mouth, he eagerly took the cup and toothbrush from her, saying, "Give it to me, give it to me, I'll put it away."

After putting her things away, she hurriedly grabbed a face towel and handed it to her, saying, "Mom, here's a towel for you. Hurry up and wipe your face, or it'll dry in a bit."

Zhang Guiying wiped her face and said without any mercy, "You don't need to flatter me, it's useless. No matter how much you plead, I'm not going to go to the hospital to take care of Li Shufen."

Zhao Binghe suddenly realized.

He said that the fourth brother was being so attentive today.

Enraged, he spat out the foam in his mouth and cursed, "Zhao Jinzhong, have you lost your conscience? Your mother took care of Li Shufen in the hospital for two days. She had a high fever the night before last and it took a long time for the fever to break. What did I tell you when I went to work yesterday? If you want to take care of her, go to the hospital yourself and do it. Don't ask your mother."

Zhao Jinzhong was extremely anxious. "If this were my father-in-law, I would have gone without hesitation. But this is my mother-in-law who is being hurt. It's not convenient for a grown man like me to take care of her."

Zhang Guiying yelled, "The wedding isn't even over yet, and you're already calling your father-in-law and mother-in-law names! You're more capable than anyone else in the hot oil splattering in the pan!"

"Complaining about me first thing in the morning? Can't you understand human language? I said I wasn't going, and I meant it. If you have nothing better to do, go lick a latrine. If you keep babbling in front of me, I'll slap you to death!"

"mom……"

"roll!"

Zhang Guiying angrily kicked the man away, ate breakfast, ignored Zhao Jinzhong's pleas, and dragged her two granddaughters to the cotton mill.

Zhao Jinzhong was both angry and anxious.

It was already 7:30, almost time for Song Mingyu to go to work, so he didn't dare to delay any longer and hurriedly rode his bike to the hospital. When he arrived at the hospital, panting, Song Mingyu was already waiting impatiently.

Seeing that it was Zhao Jinzhong who came in, he asked, "What brings you here?"

Seeing that Zhao Jinzhong was alone, she got angry again, "Your mother didn't come again?"

Li Shufen also looked over.

Zhao Jinzhong wiped his sweat and said breathlessly, "My mother is sick and has a high fever, so she can't get out of bed and really can't come... Mingyu, you just go to work. I've asked someone to ask the machinery factory for leave for me. I'll take care of Auntie at the hospital today."

Song Mingyu was skeptical. "Is your mother really sick?"

Zhao Jinzhong was very guilty. "If I were really sick, I wouldn't lie to you, no matter who I lied to."

"..."

Song Mingyu was really going to be late, so she left with the words, "Then you take care of my mom at the hospital, and I'll come and relieve you after I get off work tonight," and then left.

Zhao Jinzhong slowly approached the bedside and noticed that Li Shufen's eyes were full of suspicion as she looked at him.

Zhao Jinzhong broke out in a cold sweat.

Fortunately, Li Shufen didn't ask any questions, and Zhao Jinzhong's anxiety gradually subsided.

……

After sending her two granddaughters to school, Zhang Guiying rushed to work at the cotton mill.

Zhang Guiying, who hadn't done this job in decades and had just been reborn yesterday, was scrambling to finish it. Seeing that she was overwhelmed, Li Meifeng ran over to help.

Having done this job for thirty years, Zhang Guiying quickly found her rhythm and adapted.

Li Meifeng didn't think much of it, assuming that Zhang Guiying was upset because of the argument she had with Zhao Limin and his wife yesterday. Since the workshop was noisy, she raised her voice to comfort Zhang Guiying, "Now that your child has their own family, they treat their parents like outsiders. Don't be angry, it's not worth ruining your health."

Zhang Guiying called back, "I know!"

Lunch was eaten at the cotton mill's canteen. Zhang Guiying splurged today, ordering braised pork and two lion's head meatballs.

I ate with Li Meifeng.

While eating, Zhang Guiying's head was buzzing. The workshop was so noisy that even after leaving the workshop, it felt like a million bees were flying in her ears.

This lousy job.

Zhang Guiying didn't want to work a minute longer.

Li Meifeng was a kind-hearted person who was well-liked in the factory and the village. Zhang Guiying asked her to keep an eye out for anyone who wanted to buy a job at the cotton mill, as she wanted to sell her job.

"Selling jobs?"

Li Meifeng was startled. She glanced around, quickly finished her meal, and pulled Zhang Guiying away. Once they were in a secluded spot, she asked her, "You'll be retiring in a little over a year. Why are you thinking of selling your job now? Your third son's wife has been waiting for you to retire and take over your job."

"If you sell your job, your third son's wife will cause a huge uproar."